Music: A 'Frantic Summer' indeed

In promoting Southland band the Frantic, Dan Farnesi, of Lemont-based Frantic Music Corp., called the group's upcoming gigs a "Frantic Summer," and he couldn't have picked a better phrase. But it's frantic in a good way as vocalist and guitarist Kyle Dee, of Orland Park; guitarist Ian Farnesi, of Homer Glen; bassist and vocalist Chris Farnesi, of Homer Glen; and drummer and vocalist Brett Hartwell, of Lockport, will be playing a slew of high-profile shows that will help to gain the band even more buzz than it's already been garnering.

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Some of my conversation with Dee, 18, was in today's Taste of Chicago preview in FirstLook, but tight print space didn't permit me to include much of what the Lockport Township High School alumni (Chris Farnesi is a 2007 graduate, but the rest of the guys earned their GED diplomas while getting a real-world education on tour) and I discussed. So here's a bit more about the Frantic and why you should check the band out if you haven't already.

It was great to catch up with Dee -- whom I first interviewed (thanks to a tip from SouthtownStar colleague Rex Robinson) in February 2007 when Dee's last name was still Driscoll. Seeing members of any local band work hard at their craft and then reap the results of that hard work always makes me smile.

In that first Gig of the Week on the Frantic, Dee, then 16, said, "That's one of the coolest things about this. I get to see the country," in reference to the group prepping for an East Coast tour that included gigs in Pittsburgh and Baltimore. And the members of the Frantic continue to see the nation while playing gigs to promote their debut release "Audio & Murder" on Orland Park-based Sinister Muse Records.

"This is what we're all into, and this is all of our life dreams," Dee said.

Naming the Frantic Best Band in Chicago and Best New Artist for 2007, Q101 has been high on the Frantic for quite some time. And the band recently appeared on the station's Manno Brothers show "Crash Test Radio."

"Q101 was huge for us when that first started, and it still is," Dee said. "I can remember being young and growing up and pretending I was on Q101 when I was in my basement."

"It's something that most people can relate to, hopefully, and the record is basically about having a good time and spending time with your friends," Dee said.

"There's a lot of high school stories because that's what we were. It's breakup stories and stuff that sounds cliche, but it's what we were going through. At Warped Tour, we plan to give out quite a few CDs."

With writing under way for a second release on Sinister Muse, which is run by Blue Island's Christian Picciolini, the guys in the Frantic just want to get heard.

"We want people who have not heard of us, who don't have our CD, to already be fans of ours when the next record comes out," Dee said.

"It seems like the music industry is so different now, with everything being digital. Kids are all about iTunes and MySpace bands, but it doesn't seem like people buy CDs anymore. We want people to have our CD."

With so many great things going on for the Frantic, it's only a matter of time before those outside the Southland find out what we've known along: This band is going to be big!

"We are just guys loving what we're doing and very happy to have this opportunity to play music for the rest of our lives," Dee said.

"I want anyone who wants to have a good time to come check us out."

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Jessi Virtusio

Jessi Virtusio is the SouthtownStar’s arts and entertainment editor. She also pens the paper’s Gig of the Week and pro wrestling columns. You’ll usually find her enjoying a concert or other special event. She’s always looking to discuss music, good eats, movies and more, so let her know what’s on your mind.